Apparatus and method for shipping metal



Nov. 3,1931. R. T. ROMINE 1,830,292

' 'APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHIPPING MET AL Original Filed Sept. 10. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 wen/or.-

Fober/ I Ro Nov. 3, 1931 R. T/ROMINE 1,830,292

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHIPPING METAL Original Filed Sept. 10. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/ 2 5 F 57 5 0 l P //7venfor.r

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,Nov.3,1931. I 'R IR I E 1,830,292.

. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHIPPING ME'IIAL Original Filed Sept. 10. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 N q M 5. :2 u 1w 1 Q ll Ju u: ll- EE ILU Q //7 yen/or.

fiober/ 7. $0 77 7? Patented Nov. 3, 1931 ROBERT '1. ROMINE, F MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHIPPING METAL Original applications filed'September 10, 1927, Serial 28, 1930, and filed October 20, 1928, Serial No.

No. 218,791, new Patent No. 1,745,054, dated January 313,846, now Patent No. 1,745,057, dated January 28,

- 1930. Divided and this application filed January 23, 1930. Serial No. 422,847.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for binding and shipping sheet metal in compact unitary packs or bundles on the floor of freight cars or carriers. Large quantities of sheet metal or sheet steel are shipped from steel or rolling mills to automobile manufacturers and others, and an object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus whereby packs or bundles of posed on edge upon transverse riding blocks or pallet members P The pack S is formed of metal sheets of mixed or difl'erent sizes, including in this instance one group A of relatively narrow sheets and another group B ofwider sheets, which groups are bound together in a suitable manner so as to maintain them in position with respect to each other. By way of illus- 10 this metal containing groups of sheets of dif- 'tration the pack may be bound by means of ferent sizes may be formed and shipped in binders shown as a whole at D, which type of an efficient and economical manner. blnder is shown and described in my Patent This application is a division of my Pat- No. 1,650,540, dated November 22, 1927, and cuts Nos. 1,745,054, granted January 28, 1930, which type I have shown by preference since 15 and 1,745,057, granted January 28, 1930. greater strength and pressure against the Other objects of the invention will appear in'the following description and appended claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bound pack or bundle of metal embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a modified form sheet edges is possible. 7

Each of the binders comprises four angu-- lar sections, (1, d, d and (i each consisting of a pair of similarly formed parallel metal bars 10. The ends of the binder sections overlap and are preferably secured together by means of bolts and spacing devices 11. Each of the members 10 is provided with aplurality of holes 10a adapted to receive the bolts 11 and to permit adjustability of the binder.

At the to blocks or ler stri s which are adapted to cooperate with the inders D encircling the of the pack S I position wood of bound pack or bundle. pack. Above the section A of the pack I place 3 Fig. 4is a side elevation of the pack shown several bars or blocks of wood F so as to in Fig, 3. I compensate for the space between the upper Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended or the requirements of the prior art.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown at S a bound pack or bundle wherein two groups of metal sheets of different sizes are bound together for shipment, the pack as a whole being supported with the sheets distially edges of the sheets forming the portion A and the upper edges of the sheets of the portion B of the pack. Above the portion B I rovide preferably a wood bar or block F.

eneath the pack at the point where each binder underlies the bottom edges of the sheets of the pack, and upon the binder D at that point, I preferably place a wood strip or bar F2 for the purpose of protecting the lower edges of which underlies the pack at that point is drawn into position to-firmly bind the sheets together into a compact unit. The yoke frame D of the binder is shown as carrying a number of pressure devices E, which are substanlike those shown and described in my above mentioned patent and serve to tighten the binder by exerting inward pressure against the pack of metal. In using this type the sheets when the binder gitudinal wood members or bars E3 may be interposed between the pressure devices and the pack at opposite vertical sides of the latter, and by tightening the devices E through the medium of their adjusting screws E, considerable pressure is possible so as to compress and maintain the constituent sheets of both portions of the pack together as a unit or single mass. Additional pressure may be applied to the adjusting screws E of the pressure devices at the top of the pack, whereupon the sheets are firmly held together as a unit.

At opposite longitudinal sidesof the pack longitudinal wood members or bars H are mounted on the riding or skid members P, these bars being provided adjacent opposite ends with notches or cutout portions H, formed in the wood" members at the points where the binders D encircle the pack. The binders extend into these notches thereby interlocking the parts together. These members Hare secured to the riding blocks or pallet members F by means of nails or the like 12 (Fig. 1) and act to hold the pallet or skid members P together as-well as to hold the pack and pallet members together as a unit;

It will be understood that the packs may be formed at any convenient point, preferably at the final operation at a steel m1ll. When the packs are to be shipped in freight cars and bound b means of binders as above illustrated, the riding blocks or pallet members P are positioned transversely upon the car floor at spaced intervals so as to permit the binders D of the pack to be positioned between adjacent riding blocks free from contact with the car floor. It will be noted that the blocks P are thicker than the thickness or transverse diameter of the binders D so that when the pack is supported upon the pallet members the binders are out of contact with'the car floor (see Fig. 1). When a pack is placed in a carrier for shipment it merely rests upon the floor thereof and is not secured thereto but on the other hand is permitted to float or move on the carrier floor during transit. In order to prevent any accidental lateral or sidewise movement of the pack when shifting on thecar floor as a result of shocks during transit, guide blocks G are preferably positioned at opposite ends of the pallet mem- 'formed by piling the wider metal bers P longitudinally of the car and are secured to the car floor.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown the invention as applied in connection with packs of sheet metal wherein the sheets are of different sizes and are positioned flatwise. In this form of the invention the riding blocks P are similarly employed to support the pack S in position upon a carrier floor for shipment, and the pack containing sections of different size sheets is illustrated as bound to-' gether by means of binders D similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the entire pack made up of sections C, A and B of different size sheets or strips, may be supported on the car floor upon riding or skid members P which in this instance are tied together for unitary movement on the car floor such as by means of longitudinal angles 15 having spurs or projections 15' capable of frictionally holding the riding members together by embedding therein.

-The particular pack shown in Fig. 3 is sheets C within the angles 15 upon ridin or skid members, after which one group i of narrower metal sheets or strips are piled upon the top of the sheets C. Although these sheets A are shown as piled directly on the sheets C, they may be separated by spacers if desired. .Wood filler members or bars I are placed in position against the inner edges of the sheets A, and thereupon another group of sheets B are stacked on top of the sheets C with their inneredges abutting against the filler members I. The entire mass is then bound together by suitable means capable of maintaining the different size sheets in proper position with respect to each other. Tight binders are important in pressing the wood filler members against the edges of the shorter sheets while at the same time exerting substantially the wider sheets, of the same pack. v

The rigid binders D carrying pressure devices E are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 by way of example, this type of binder having the advantage of greater strength and pressure capacity. The invention however is not limited to the binder herein shown. The application of the binders herein illustrated is as equivalent pressure against or'another group of sheets follows: the binders D comprising four sections are placed about the entire pack S. A

pair of wood members or bars K, one for each binder D is then. placed upon the top of the portions A and B of the pack between those portions and the binders. Pressure devices E are then inserted between the binders and the wood members K and preliminarily tightened to draw the bottom parts of the binders into engagement with the angles, 15 at the under side of the pack. A similar bar L is also placed against the left vertical side of vertical flanges of the and 4 is allowed to the pack, it being understood that a pair of such bars are provided for each binder. Pressure devices E are then inserted between the bars L at the left side of the pack and the binder sections at that point, these being tightened through the medium of their adjusting screws to draw the binder sections at the right side of the pack into engagement with the wood members L positioned at that side so as to clamp such members between the binders and the edges of the sheets at that f side of the pack. Final pressure may then be applied to the pressure devices E at the top of the pack. Likewise final pressure may then be applied to the pressure devices at the left side of the pack whereupon the sheets of the several groups or packs A, B and C will be pressed together to form a compact unitary bundle.

The wood members L at the vertical sides of the pack may be cut away or notched at their lower inner faces where they engage the angles 15. These wood members, however, may be formed of relatively soft wood and hence it would not be necessary to provide such notches, since upon applying pressure to the binders the angles will be forced into the wood members.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pack or bundle and the pallet or skid members will move together as a unit when the carrier in which they are/being shipped is subjected to shocks, blows or impacts during transit. That is to say, the pack of -Figs. 3 have a slight relative movement or floating action upon the car floor during shipment. It will be also understood that. when the pack S is placed in a carrier for shipment, the usual guide members G are nailed to the car floor to prevent lateral or sidewise movement of the packs during shipment.

7 whereby From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a method and apparatus heavy bundles of metal containing groups or packs ofsheets of different sizes may be bound into unitary bundles for shipment in carriers, and at destination may be removed as units from the car.

While I have shown merely for purposes of illustration two forms of bundles containing sheets of diflerent sizes various other forms of bundles containing groups or packs of sheets of different sizes may be formed in accordance with the invention.

I may employ, member to take the place of the wood members or blocks F of the pack shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Likewise I may find it desirable to employ several wood members or bars in lieu of the wood member I forming a part of the pack shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that sheets of different widths may be stacked in packs and all bound together as a unit,

if desirable, a single wood .pack in posltion relative to the wider equal pressure being exerted against the edges of the wider and narrow groups or packs of sheets whereby irrespective of the different sizes of sheets all of them will be firmly held together as a single mass unit during transit against relative displacement.

. I claim 1. The hereindescribed method of transporting sheet metal flatwise on the floor of a rei ht car, consisting in arranging sheets of fiflerent widths to form a single pack, with the sheets of one width on top of the sheets of another Width, and binding the pack to exert substantially equal pressure on the wider and narrower portions of the pack to maintain the pack as a unit.

2.-The hereindescribed method of transporting sheet metal flatwise on the floor of a frei ht car consisting in arranging sheets of dierent widths one on top of another to form a single pack, and binding the pack to exert substantially equal but independently exerted pressure on the wider and narrower portions of .the pack to maintain the pack as a unit.

3. The hereindescribed method of transporting sheet metal flatwise on the floor of a freight car, consisting in arranging sheets of different widths as units one on top of another to form a single pack, and binding the pack and exerting substantially independently pressure on the edges of the wider and narrower units of the pack to maintain the pack as a unit.

4. Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwise in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths the pack, and means cooperating with said binder for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portion, -said means including a wooden filler in the pack area beside the narrower sheets and in the same vertical plane as the wider sheets.

5. Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwise in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for trans ortation in which the bundle comprises a p urality of portions of different widths comprising a binder encircling the pack, angle bars supporting opposite 1ongitudinal side edges of the pack, and means cooperating with said binder and angle bars for maintaining the narrower portion of the por tion, said means including a wooden filler within the pack area beside the narrower sheets but above and on the wider sheets.

6. Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwisein a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of. different widths comprising a binderencircling comprising a binder encircling rower portions of the comprises a plurality sheets of different wi the pack, filler the pack and the binder and arranged on the wider sheets but beside the edges of the narrower sheets, and pressure devices car-, ried by said binder for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portion.

7. Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwise in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation with the sheets resting flatwise in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths resting as units one on top of the other comprising a. binder encircling the pack, and means cooperatin with said binder for exerting su'bstantia 1y equal pressure against the edges of the sheets of tllle wider and nar- 8. Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwise in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation with the sheets resting flatwise in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths,

comprising a binder encircling the pack, means cooperating with said binder for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portions, and means for exerting pressure against said'last means.

9. Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwise in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation with the sheets resting flatwise in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths comprising a binder encircling the pack, wood members engaging the narrower portion of the pack, and pressure devices between said binder and pack for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portion.

10." Apparatus for binding sheet metal flatwise in 'a pack or bundle on a carrier floor for transportation in which the bundle of groups of metal ths arranged one above the other, comprising wood filler means facing the edges of the shorter roup of sheets and engaging the faces of w1der sheets and in the vertical planes of the latter, bindin meanspressing said groups of sheets and sai wood ller means together to maintain the sheets in position with respect to each other, and supportin means for the pack free to shift with sai pack as a unit relatively to the car floor.

11. The method of transporting sheet metalflatwise on the floor of a freight car or carrier comprising arranging groups of sheets of different widths to form a single pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets in substantially fixed relative positions in the pack, and allowing the groups of sheets to shift or floatflatwise as a unit relatively to the car floor when the car is subjected to shocks or blows.

blocks interposed between I tudinally 12. The method of transporting sheet metal flatwise on the floor of a freight car or carrier comprising arranging groups of sheets of different widths tov form a single pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets in substantially fixed relative positions, supporting the groups of sheets as a unit by means interposed therebetween and the car floor, groups of sheets to shift or float flatwise as a unit relatively to the car floor during transit.

13. The method of transporting sheet metal flatwise on the floor of a freight car comprising arranging groups of sheets of different widths to form a single pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets together in the pack, allowing the groups of sheets to shift or float flatwise as a unit longiof the car floor during transit, and guiding the pack to predetermine its longitudinal movement.

14:. The method of transporting sheet metal flatwise on the floor of a freight car ico'mprising arranging groups of sheets of different widths to form a single pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets together in the pack, supporting the groups of sheets flatwise as a unit on riding members to permit the groups to shift or float as a unit longitudinally of the car during transit thereby to resist relative shifting of the sheets of the groups.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT T. ROMINE. 

